Historic Preservation Plan

2016-2021

S TAT E O F V E R M O N T

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TABLE OF CONTENTS3 Preamble3 Calvin Coolidge “Brave Little State of Vermont”4 National Historic Preservation Act of 1966

5 Introduction7 VDHP Mission9 “Vermont is the State I Love”15 Guide for the Future

16 Preservation History16 Timeline

22 Challenges

23 Preservation Forward23 Goals and Actions33 Implementation Plan

34 Acknowledgments

President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site, Plymouth, Vermont

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PREAMBLE“Brave Little State of Vermont”

My fellow Vermonters:

For two days we have been traveling through this state. We have been up the East side, across and down the West side. We have seen Brattleboro, Bellows Falls, Windsor, White River Junction and Bethel. We have looked toward Montpelier. We have visited Burlington and Middlebury. Returning we have seen Rutland.

I have had an opportunity of visiting again the scenes of my childhood. I want to express to you, and through the press to the other cities of Vermont, my sincere appreciation for the general hospitality bestowed upon me and my associates on the occasion of this journey.

It is gratifying to note the splendid recovery from the great catastrophe which overtook the state nearly a year ago. Transportation has been restored. The railroads are in a better condition than before. The highways are open to traffic for those who wish to travel by automobile.

Vermont is a state I love. I could not look upon the peaks of Ascutney, Killington, Mansfield, and Equinox without being moved in a way that no other scene could move me. It was here that I first saw the light of day, here I received my bride, here my dead lie pillowed on the loving breast of our eternal hills.

I love Vermont because of her hills and valleys, her scenery and invigorating climate, but most of all because of her indomitable people. They are a race of pioneers who have almost beggared themselves to serve others. If the spirit of liberty should vanish in other parts of the Union, and support of our institutions should languish, it could all be replenished from the generous store held by the people of this brave little state of Vermont.

President Calvin Coolidge, September 21, 1928

The spirit and direction of the Nation are founded upon and reflected in its historic heritage; the historical and cultural foundations of the Nation should be preserved as a living part of our community life and development in order to give a sense of orientation to the American people; …the preservation of this irreplaceable heritage is in the public interest so that its vital legacy of cultural, educational, aesthetic, inspirational, economic, and energy benefits will be maintained and enriched for future generations of Americans….

1966 NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT

Barre, Vermont

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INTRODUCTIONWith evidence of Native American occupations extending as far back as 13,000 years ago, Vermont has a rich cultural, historical, and architectural legacy. This significant heritage manifests itself in the state’s ancient Native encampments, agricultural farmsteads with timber-framed barns and rising silos, villages with white-spired churches and town halls marking the valley bottoms and maple-strewn hillsides, downtowns centered on railroad depots and sites of early industrial centers, summer retreats surrounding lakes and ponds, and ski resorts nested on the slopes of the green mountains. The strata of history is a component of the built and natural environment, recounting the stories of Vermont’s buildings, economy, and communities. This legacy does not endure by chance.

Over the past forty-six years, preservation of Vermont’s historic resources has been the primary initiative of the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation (VDHP) and its preservation partners. Serving as the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), VDHP plays an essential role in guiding the state’s historic preservation agenda. It is a division of the Department of Housing and Community Development, within the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. VDHP fulfills its responsibilities under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and the Vermont Historic Preservation Act of 1975 by identifying, preserving, and interpreting historic resources on behalf of the state and promoting them as significant components of our shared communities. In an effort to create a comprehensive planning and decision-making framework to guide historic preservation activities, the Vermont Historic Preservation Act Rules were adopted in March 2001. The Rules, primarily an internal guide, establish the regulations and state-governing approach for the assessment and management of the state’s cultural, historical, and architectural resources. Awareness and appreciation of Vermont’s distinct heritage is also broadened through the State-owned Historic Sites program, which interprets 22 historic properties and archival collections for the public.

The Vermont Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, created by the Vermont Historic Preservation Act, augments the efforts of VDHP. The council serves as the State Review Board as required by the National Historic Preservation Act. The seven governor-appointed members are charged with approving State and National Register of Historic Places nominations, assessing of the survey documentation for historic properties,

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annually evaluating the activities of VDHP outlined in the State Historic Preservation Plan, recommending rehabilitation projects seeking state and federal grant funding, and reviewing state and federal undertakings that may affect historic properties. Some of these activities have been delegated to the staff of VDHP.

The successful preservation of valued historic resources requires a concerted advocacy effort that balances stewardship and partnership. Beginning in the early 1970s, preservation advocacy in Vermont has brought together citizens, organizations, business leaders, municipalities, state agencies, and government officials. Legislation and programs such as the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board and the Downtown Program have strengthened traditional downtowns and village centers, ensured preservation of significant historic buildings and agricultural landscapes, and limited sprawl. Through this broad-based effort, thousands of historic resources endure as landmarks of this brave little state’s distinct sense of place.

To fulfill our responsibilities under the Vermont State Historic Preservation Act

and the National Historic Preservation Act, the Vermont Division for Historic

Preservation is dedicated to identifying, preserving, and interpreting historic

resources on behalf of the state and promoting them as significant

components of our communities.

MISSION STATEMENT

Bennington Battle Monument State Historic Site, Bennington, Vermont

Strafford, Vermont

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“Vermont is the State I Love”

As Vermont’s own President Calvin Coolidge imparted to the residents of Bennington in 1928, the Green Mountain State’s rich legacy of historic resources is as diverse as it is engaging. Lake Champlain and the Connecticut River form the west and east boundaries. The State of Massachusetts is located to the south, with Canada to the north. The Green Mountains divide the state roughly in half, crosscut by major river valleys. Vermont is one of the smallest states in the nation, with an area of 9,616 square miles and a population of 626,562.

The land we now know as the State of Vermont was originally the homeland of Algonquin-speaking groups, known at the time of European contact as the Abenaki. During the early colonial period, France claimed much of the region. Nevertheless, being rugged and landlocked, many areas outside of the Champlain Valley were essentially uninhabited by non-Native people until late in the 1700s after the French defeat in the French and Indian War. The provincial governor of New Hampshire, Benning Wentworth, issued 135 land grants between 1749 and 1764—the first was for Bennington, a township west of the Connecticut River. The Province of New York, having extended land patents over much of the same area, was granted rights to the territory west of the Connecticut River by the King of England and subsequently invalidated Governor Wentworth’s grants. These early charters and land patents, particularly the New Hampshire Grants, had a lasting effect on the settlement patterns in the southern region.

During the Revolutionary War, the American Northern Army constructed extensive fortifications on Lake Champlain in order to defend New England and points south against a British attack from Canada. When British General John Burgoyne pushed south on the lake in the summer of 1777, the American forces withdrew from Mount Independence and Fort Ticonderoga, some of them fighting a successful American rear guard action at Hubbardton on July 7, 1777. The following day, in the town of Windsor on the Connecticut River, delegates ratified the Vermont Constitution at Elijah West’s tavern. Consequently, the territory claimed through grants by both New Hampshire and New York became an independent republic. The territorial government granted and sold land in the central and northern regions to cover war expenses, prompting settlement along watersheds and new military roads by the war’s end.

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Vermont remained a sovereign republic until January 1791, when it became the first state to join the Union following the ratification of the United States Constitution. Although a time of peace, the early years of the State of Vermont were also a time of struggle for its inhabitants. Yet, following the conclusion of the War of 1812, increasing commerce from Canada along the interior waterway between the St. Lawrence and Hudson rivers spurred industry and growth. Vermont’s central position along this waterway became even more important with the construction of canals to the Hudson River and then with the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825. The steam-power railroads crisscrossing the land by the middle part of the 19th century opened new regions to development and transported products to state and regional markets at a pace never before experienced. Agriculture and manufacturing spurred the economy and transformed Vermont, creating new villages, enlarging communities, establishing socioeconomic neighborhoods of merchants and professionals, and diversifying farms. Vermont-born Chester A. Arthur became the nation’s 21st president during this period, championing civil service reform and attempting to improve relations with Native Americans and African Americans.

By the second quarter of the 20th century, as Calvin Coolidge was making his mark on the national scene, the economic boom of Vermont had begun to diminish. The largest towns, with a few exceptions, experienced a decrease in population. Natural disasters like the 1927 flood necessitated a period of transportation modernization with new bridges and miles of paved roadways opening the landscape to the automobile-traveling visitor. The Great Depression scarred Vermont as the stone and machine tool industries ceased operations and the demand for agricultural products dropped by more than fifty percent. Lore recounts that farmers, accustomed to making do with what they had, were not affected by the dramatic changes in the economy. In fact, a number of farms closed in the decade after the crash in 1929 and the percentage of unimproved farmland notably rose. As it did nationally, the events of World War II revived Vermont’s economy, temporarily awaking factory villages St. Johnsbury, Vermont

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and mines, while at the same time creating a housing shortage. After the war, unfortunately, manufacturing and farming again waned, passenger and freight train service stopped, and the population decreased.

Yet, a new industry was developing within the rugged mountains that would have an indelible influence on the Green Mountain State for decades to come as winter sports gained popularity. The population increased seasonally as urbanites sought temporary asylum to explore Vermont’s natural beauty and small town character, and new resort towns were established to support the growing ski and tourism industries. Construction of the interstate highway system between 1968 and 1978 opened Vermont to easier travel, longer commutes, suburbanization, and strip malls, sprawling the boundaries of historic villages. This coincided with the passage of local zoning ordinances, a statewide land-use control law (Act 250), and the establishment of an organized Vermont preservation movement. Historic preservation activities by the State of Vermont, however, started decades earlier.

Beginning with the 1902 purchase of the site where President Chester A. Arthur was born in Fairfield, the State of Vermont has been the steward of significant historic resources that recount local, state, and national stories. A precursor to the Division for Historic Preservation, the Historic Sites Commission was formed by state legislation in 1947 as part of the State Library and Historical Society. The commission had the power to designate historic sites and buildings with roadside historic markers and manage several of the state-owned historic sites, including Hubbardton Battlefield, the birthplace and cemetery of President Coolidge, and the birthplace of President Arthur. The commission was composed of the director of the Vermont Historical Society, director of the Vermont Development Commission, and a person appointed biennially by the governor. The commissioner of highways and the state forester both served as executive secretary and provided guidance. The name

A recent poll indicates Vermonters believe it is important to preserve Vermont’s history to:

92% Retain Community Character

Leave a Legacy for Future Generations to Learn from and Enjoy

Create Educational Opportunities for Teaching about History and Culture

Bring Tourism Dollars to Our Communities

88%

81%

80%

Maple Grove Farm, Derby, Vermont

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of the commission was later changed to the Board of Historic Sites. Raising awareness of Vermont’s Prehistoric and historic past, the Vermont Archaeology Society was formed in 1968.

In 1969, the Vermont Division of Historic Sites replaced the Board of Historic Sites. The Division was created to serve as the State Historic Preservation Office as required in the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Activities commenced with documentation of historic buildings and archaeological sites, preservation of character-defining landmarks in downtowns and village centers, and interpretation of significant sites for the visiting public. In 1975, the state legislature passed the Vermont Historic Preservation Act, renaming the Division of Historic Sites as the Division for Historic Preservation and providing structure for its mission. That same year, the University of Vermont established its Historic Preservation program under founding director Chester H. Liebs, who had previously served as supervisor of the Vermont Board of Historic Sites and was an active national advocate for preservation. In 1980, the Preservation Trust of Vermont was organized to promote private preservation activities to save communities and use historic places. The cumulative preservation efforts have resulted in the documentation of some 50,000 historic properties, nomination of nearly 12,000 properties to the National Register of Historic Places, designation of more than 30,000 resources to the State Register of Historic Places, and interpretation of 22 state-owned historic sites and resource collections for tourists and researchers.1

1  History was gleaned from several sources, including: Glenn M. Andres and Curtis B. Johnson, Buildings of Vermont (Charlottesville, VA: University of Virginia Press, 2014); J. Kevin Graffagnino, The Shaping of Vermont: From the Wilderness to the Centennial, 1749-1877 (Rutland and Bennington, VT: Vermont Heritage Press and Bennington Museum, 1983); Michael, Sherman, Gene Sessions, and P. Jeffrey Potash, Freedom and Unity: A History of Vermont (Barre, VT: Vermont Historical Society, 2004); and Richard Judd, New Deal in Vermont, its impact and aftermath (New York, NY: Garland Publishing, 1979).

A polling of Vermonters shows the most challenging cultural resources to preserve are:

55% Historic Downtowns and Villages

54% Historic Agricultural Buildings

46% Historic Churches and Religious Buildings

45% Rural and Historic Landscapes/

Village Greens

Saint Albans, Vermont

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Guide for the Future

The Vermont State Historic Preservation Plan will be in effect for five years, from 2016 to 2021. As the primary users, VDHP is responsible for assuring that its programs and activities further the goals, objectives, and prioritized actions outlined in this plan. Beyond its use by the SHPO, this plan is a guide for a broad range of historic preservation efforts, informing preservation-related decision-making at all levels, encouraging collaboration and partnerships, expanding awareness of and appreciation for cultural resources, and reinforcing historic preservation as an enduring value held by Vermonters.

Preparation for the Vermont State Historic Preservation Plan commenced with outreach to our preservation partners and friends to formulate a vision and identify priorities that speak to the harmony of Vermont’s historic resources, natural resources, and working landscapes. VDHP sought participation from Vermonters at meetings and conferences, and through an online public survey, shared via direct email, social media, and the VDHP website. Feedback from the public and our preservation partners, like the Preservation Trust of Vermont, Vermont Archaeology Society, and the Vermont Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, has been a significant component in the development of the plan. After evaluating the survey and internally assessing the challenges, needs, and aspirations of VDHP for the next five years, we developed four goals with specific benchmarks. The goals were constructed so that progress and success could be meaningfully measured, both during and at the end of the five-year period.

SINCE 2011

182 rehabilitation projects awarded matching grants totaling

$2,387,343

IN 2014

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grants awarded out of 32 (63%) applications received totaling

$247,134

toward project costs of

$589,887

IN 2014

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grants awarded out of 41 (44%) applications received totaling

$253,220

toward project costs of

$877,957

HISTORICPRESERVATION

AND BARN GRANTS

BARN GRANTS

HISTORICPRESERVATION

GRANTS

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1902 1968State of Vermont purchases the site where President Chester A. Arthur was born in Fairfield. This becomes first state-owned historic site.

The Vermont Archaeology Society (VAS) is formed as a volunteer organization comprised of professional and avocational archaeologists and interested public committed to raising the awareness of Vermont’s past, while at the same time protecting its valuable cultural resources from injury and exploitation.

State of Vermont receives transfer of lands associated with the Battle of Hubbardton, fought on July 7, 1777, to ensure battlefield preservation.

The Division of Historic Sites replaces the Board of Historic Sites, within the newly created Agency of Development and Community Affairs to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act as the State Historic Preservation Office. (Title 3 of the Vermont Statutes, Chapter 47 § 2473, effective January 10, 1971)

1937 1969The Historic Sites Commission is established, creating the state-owned historic sites and the roadside historic marker programs. (Title 17 of the Vermont Statutes, Chapter 186). Name later changed to Board of Historic Sites.

Today, 84 buildings, structures, and sites are maintained as state-owned historic sites. Twenty are open to the public.

The roadside historic marker program identifies 216 sites associated with significant events and people throughout Vermont; one marker is located in Virginia.

1947United States Congress establishes the National Historic Preservation Act to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archaeological resources. (Public Law 89-665; 16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.) It is the most far-reaching preservation legislation ever enacted in the United States. Among other things, the act necessitates the creation of a state historic preservation office, select professional staff members, and a state advisory board. The act requires federal agencies to evaluate the impact of all federally funded or permitted projects on historic properties through a process known as Section 106 Review.

1966

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PRESERVATION HISTORYWith a history of our own spanning most of the 20th century, VDHP presents a look back at our beginnings and notes the remarkable successes that Vermont preservationists have collectively achieved. We also assess where we are at present and mark the continuity and expansion of our many programs. It is from these vantage points that we look toward the future with our goals and actions.

Vermont legislature passes the Land Use and Development Act (Act 250) to mitigate the effects of development through an application process that addresses environmental and community effects of projects that exceed a threshold in size. The Division of Historic Sites addresses Criterion 8: Will not have an undue adverse effect on aesthetics, scenic beauty, historic site or natural areas. (10 of the Vermont Statutes, Chapter 151 and Act 250 Rules)

1970The Vermont State Register of Historic Places is established, with standards for listing consistent with those of the National Register of Historic Places. (Amended 1979, No. 61 § 1)

The Vermont Historic Preservation Act of 1975 is amended to initiate a statewide survey to identify and document historic properties and sites. VDHP begins Historic Structures and Sites Survey (HSSS), inventorying Vermont’s historic resources for historical, architectural, and/or engineering significance.

HSSS inventory now includes documentation for over 30,000 historic districts, buildings, structures, and objects.

Archaeological survey has documented 5,920 Precontact and historic sites, 4,460 of which have sufficient documentation for inclusion in the Vermont Archaeological Inventory (VAI).

Approximately 150 underwater archaeological sites are documented in the Vermont portion of Lake Champlain and adjacent waterways.

1979Vermont legislature passes the Vermont Historic Preservation Act of 1975, creating the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation (VDHP). Companion legislation in the same year establishes the position of the State Archaeologist and the Vermont Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. VDHP assumes the responsibility for stewardship of the state-owned historic sites and the roadside historic marker programs, and underwater historic properties. (Title 22 of the Vermont Statutes, Chapter 14). VDHP has staff of five, including the director, archaeologist, architectural historian, preservation planner, and historian.

1975VDHP receives its first easement, ensuring the preservation of the architectural and historical integrity of the St. Johnsbury House.

VDHP presently holds ten easements for significant buildings and archaeological sites.

The University of Vermont offers a Master’s of Science degree in Historic Preservation within the Department of History. Chester Liebs is the founding director.

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1980 1982 1985 1986The Preservation Trust of Vermont forms as a statewide non-profit to help communities save and use historic places, with a focus on strengthening downtowns and village centers, supporting local initiatives, and building capacity.

Beginning in 1975, VDHP staff and unpaid volunteers visit college and university departments, historical societies, town museums, and knowledgeable informants to generate a baseline inventory of known archaeological sites in Vermont. This data forms the VAI, created through legislation in 2009.

The Underwater Historic Preserves Program, which focuses on underwater sites in Lake Champlain and related waterways, is established. It is the first of its kind in the United States.

Nine underwater wrecks are currently marked for exploration in Lake Champlain.

Vermont launches the Certified Local Government (CLG) program, created as part of the 1980 amendments to the National Historic Preservation Act.

Today, Vermont has fourteen CLG communities.

Historic Preservation Grant Program is established to help municipalities and non-profit organizations rehabilitate and use historic buildings that make up a vital part of Vermont’s historic downtowns, villages, and rural communities.

More than 550 historic civic and community buildings have received this one-to-one grant, totaling almost $4.5 million in fund of awarded.

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VDHP establishes a policy to notify property owners and the local municipality when an historic resource or archaeological site is being considered for inclusion in the State Register of Historic Places. (Amended 1989, No. 194 (Adj. Sess.) § 1)

Barn Preservation Grant Program is established. This is the oldest state-funded barn grant program in the United States.

Over $3 million in one-to-one grant assistance has aided in the preservation of about 368 historic barns and agricultural outbuildings.

The position of State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) is created, taking on existing duties of the Director of the Division for Historic Preservation. The title of Director is removed in 2001. (Amended 1995 No. 46 §§42-43; 2001, No. 35 § 3)

Vermont legislature enacts a state rehabilitation tax credit program (1999, No. 159, 32 V.S.A. § 5930). This state tax credit program revitalizes communities, creates jobs, generates state revenues, and stimulates private investment in the 24 Designated Downtowns and 122 Village Centers.

306 projects awarded to date, with $20,788,525 in credits provided. Since 2009, the state tax credits have leveraged $251,618,267 in project costs.

1990 1992 1995 1999Rehabilitation Investment Tax Credit (RITC) program commences, utilizing the federal tax reform legislation enacted in 1986. (P.L. 99-514)

326 approved projects to date, with over $156 million in qualified project costs.

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Unmarked Burial Sites Special Fund is created to protect, preserve, move, or reinter unmarked burial sites and human remains, monitor excavations, and perform archaeological assessments and site investigations. (Added 2001, No. 149 (Adj. Sess.), §57)

VDHP, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) execute the first Programmatic Agreement (PA) to completely fulfill the FHWA’s Section 106 responsibilities for Federal Aid Highway projects in Vermont. To oversee this program, VTrans hires two archaeologists and two architectural historians.

Vermont Archaeology Heritage Center (VAHC) is established in an interim facility in South Burlington. Funding for the operation of the facility and archival activities is provided through legislation in 2009 and partnership with VTrans. (Amended 2009, No. 47 § 4)

VAHC currently curates collections from over 700 archaeological sites. These collections represent millions of artifacts and are preserved in over 1,850 archival boxes.

Research for the Vermont Barn Census is conducted by graduate students at the University of Vermont Historic Preservation Program, dedicated volunteers, Historic Windsor’s Preservation Education Institute, Save Vermont Barns, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, PTV and VDHP. The preliminary research documents barns and farm buildings in thirteen towns.

Vermont Barn Census, available online for research purposes, contains records for 2,780 barns and agricultural buildings.

Vermont Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and VDHP adopt the National Register of Historic Places criteria and procedures for the assessment of significance and integrity of historic properties for the Vermont State Register of Historic Places.

About 30,000 properties listed in the State Register to date.

Nearly 12,000 resources listed in the National Register to date.

2000 2006 20092001Flooding from Tropical Storm Irene devastates Vermont. Because of Vermont’s settlement patterns, many of our historic centers are in low-lying areas near rivers and streams, and historic buildings, structures, and infrastructure are vulnerable. Communities and groups come together to identify the damage to these resources, advocate for recovery resources, and work together to repair the damage.

Changes to response and recovery plans have helped lay the foundation for improved resilience efforts, with the goal to protect and preserve our historic resources.

2011

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VAHC relocates to the Vermont History Center, located in the historic Spaulding Graded School now occupied by the Vermont Historical Society. Programs expand to include research, analysis, exhibits, and outreach and education.

Since 2012, VAHC has hosted nearly 900 visitors and researchers.

VDHP begins accepting the digital submittal of projects, grants, and nominations for staff review.

The Project Review team expands to four members: two architectural historians and two archaeologists.

In 2014, the Project Review team reviewed nearly 2,500 state and federally regulated projects.

2012 2014 2015Vermont Archaeology Month (VAM), founded in 1995 by the Vermont Archaeology Society, is taken over by VDHP in partnership with VTrans.

The Online Resource Center (ORC) is launched, providing digital access to all scanned archival files of VDHP; scanning of documents began in 2013.

Over 30,000 documents have been uploaded into the ORC from the Resource Room.

Vermont launches a Cultural Resource Surveyor Application in partnership with the National Park Service and the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions, allowing online data collection through a geodatabase.

Historic districts of Hartford and Norwich are the first to be surveyed using this digital tool.

VDHP has staff of fifteen, consisting of the SHPO, four architectural historians, three archaeologists, one historian/sites chief, three sites administrators, a financial administrator, and two administrative coordinators.

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CHALLENGESCritical to moving preservation forward in Vermont is an understanding of actions and challenges confronting us in the 21st century:

Responding to ongoing technological innovations f Coordinating national and state initiatives for sustainability and energy

conservation and efficiency with historic preservation.

f Addressing effects of telecommunication equipment on historic resources.

Disaster Relief Response and Assistance Priorities

Digital Age Proficiency f Transition from paper submittals and archives to electronic.

f Work plan matched with funding for an integrated database of historic resources and associated archives.

Transitional Partnerships and Changing Priorities f Developing and maintaining long-term partnerships with transitional

partners and changing priorities to keep preservation relevant.

Lack of Survey Documentation f Documentation is lacking in areas of state not yet surveyed or recorded to

a limited degree decades ago.Senator Justin Morrill State Historic Site, Strafford, Vermont

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PRESERVATION FORWARDThe four major goals of VDHP align with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and the Vermont Historic Preservation Act of 1975, as amended, and address the challenges Vermont faces now. Each goal has supporting actions that anticipate results.

Goals and Actions

GOAL 1: Increase Awareness and Appreciation of our History

GOAL 2: Recognize Historic Places

GOAL 3: Exchange Information

GOAL 4: Historic Resource Stewardship

Senator Justin Morrill State Historic Site, Strafford, Vermont

CASE STUDY State and Federal Tax Credits in Designated Downtown

Brooks House BRATTLEBORO, VERMONT

In 2011, fire devastated the landmark Brooks House in downtown Brattleboro, heavily damaging its third and fourth floors. The 1.8 million gallons of water needed to extinguish the inferno saturated the building. Brooks House, once one of the finest luxury hotels in New England, was built in 1871 for George Brooks. The architectural firm of E. Boyden and Son of Worcester, Massachusetts, designed the imposing Second Empire-style building, which had two-story metal porches and a distinctive mansard roof with a rising corner tower, dormers, and ornate roof cresting. In more recent years, the building served the community by offering rental

housing, offices, and commercial space. Although much altered over the years, Brooks House remained vitally important to the downtown economy and as a local historic landmark. The ambitious rehabilitation of this building following the fire was undertaken by the Brooks House Redevelopment Team, which utilized a number of funding sources including state and federal tax credits, local investments, grants, and loans. Reopening in 2015, Brooks House now provides market-rate housing, retail and restaurant space, and serves as the local satellite campus for the Community College of Vermont and Vermont Technical College.

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GOAL 1 Increase Awareness and Appreciation of our History

I. Educate public that historic preservation is culturally and financially beneficial and worthwhile.

f Promote positive examples of successful historic preservation projects to address negative perceptions about historic preservation.

f Provide better information about the existing energy efficient features of historic properties and greater assistance and guidance on how to improve energy efficiency while still maintaining the historic integrity of the property.

f Develop new and innovative strategies for promoting programs such as the Rehabilitation Investment Tax Credit (RITC) and Historic Preservation and Barn Grants.

f Foster effective partnerships that stimulate private investment in the preservation of historic buildings.

f Promote Vermont’s designated downtowns and villages, highlighting the importance of maintaining historic resources in these population centers.

f Disseminate information to the public through websites, printed material, presentations, mobile applications, and Roadside Historic Marker program.

II. Improve the coordination of activities under the National Historic Preservation Act and the Vermont Historic Preservation Act.

f Assist state and federal agencies in fulfilling their stewardship responsibilities.

f Foster collaboration and exchange of information with the other divisions of the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, as well as other state agencies.

f Encourage greater individual and community stewardship and action to protect archaeological and historic resources.

f Expand network of preservation partners, especially in rural and underserved regions, by engaging select boards, regional planning commissions, and local community officials.

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GOAL 2 Recognize Historic Places

I. Identify and document Vermont’s archaeological and historic resources f Provide toolkits, support, and guidance to community partners to engage, educate, instruct, and direct

property owners, consultants, and volunteers on the importance of survey and advantages of designation to the State and National Registers of Historic Places and the associated review processes.

f Assess gaps in survey and nominations, and identify and implement strategies and initiatives for their resolution, especially for flood-prone areas, and underrepresented regions and resources types.

f Update and expand existing historic context information for use in identifying and evaluating archaeological and historic resources with an emphasis on periods and areas of significance.

f Conduct new and update existing surveys to identify and document archaeological and historic resources; revisit survey methodologies and update procedural manuals.

f Increase nominations of eligible archaeological and historic resources to the State and National Registers of Historic Places, with an emphasis on those associated with underrepresented regions and resource types.

f Educate municipalities about why and how to establish a local historic district.

II. Increase ability to respond to emergencies affecting cultural resources. f Work with the National Park Service, FEMA, and the Vermont Department of Housing and Community

Development to develop user-friendly guidance for historic property owners addressing scenarios such as disaster recovery, distressed/vacant properties, and government assistance navigation.

CASE STUDY Section 106 Building Review for Federal Agency

John L. Cootey Building RUTLAND, VERMONT

Built c. 1929 as an automobile showroom, the John L. Cootey Building in Rutland features the only Art Deco polychrome terra cotta façade in Vermont. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing resource in the Downtown Rutland Historic District in 1978. After more than 80 years of exposure to harsh New England winters, the façade began to show significant signs of deterioration. The United States Postal Service (USPS), which purchased the building to serve as a carrier’s annex in 1998, executed

the restoration of the character-defining façade, rehabilitating and replacing the polychrome terra cotta tiles, the banding of Carrara glass, and the steel-frame windows. USPS worked corroboratively under Section 106 with the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation, the City of Rutland, and the Rutland Historical Society to ensure the success of this historic preservation project. The landmark building reopened in 2014.

CASE STUDY Section 106 Archaeology Review for Federal Agency

Vermont Route 78 Upgrade Project SWANTON, VERMONT

In 2013, the Northeast Archaeology Research Center (NEARC) conducted archaeological investigations in Swanton along Vermont Route 78 in anticipation of a road widening project. This project was done in collaboration with the Vermont Agency of Transportation, Federal Highway Transportation Administration, VDHP, Town of Swanton officials and landowners, and local native groups, and included educational outreach to area schools and residents. Well-preserved Middle to Late Archaic Native American settlements (ca. 7,500-3,000 years before present) were documented

in the eastern part of the project area. To the west, progressively younger artifacts related to the entire Woodland period (ca. 3,000-500 years before present) were documented and intensively studied, including evidence of Late Woodland corn cultivation and the remains of the first definitive longhouse structure in Vermont. Excavations at these sites represent one of Vermont’s largest archaeological studies to date and the data generated will foster important research and educational opportunities for decades to come.

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GOAL 3 Exchange Information

I. Develop an easily accessible public interface for research and for the graphic representation of Vermont’s historic resources.

f Update and maintain existing databases and online archives for collection and sharing of information for identification and documentation purposes.

f Work to record, aggregate and/or upgrade geospatial data on all resources, ensuring that the information will meet national metadata standards and be functional across platforms.

f Collaborate with Agency of Transportation (VTrans) on the sharing of historic resource data.

f Continue to implement the Cultural Resource Surveyor Application as a data collection tool; develop system to integrate data with other systems.

f Develop applications for mobile devices to make information about historic resources accessible on the go and to enable VDHP staff and volunteers to collect data in the field.

Z Complete the digitization of slides and other photographic formats Z Solicit funds for an integrated database of historic resources and associated archives.

II. Collaborate with educators and the Agency of Education in developing lesson plans and school programs that incorporate preservation and archaeology; provide technical assistance and outreach materials at all levels.

III. Facilitate research and exchange of historic preservation documentation. f Develop training materials and programs on preservation techniques.

f Conduct and coordinate consultant and preservation partner trainings and workshops.

f Work with the Division of Community Planning and Revitalization (CP&R) and the Preservation Trust of Vermont (PTV) to organize the annual downtown and historic preservation conference, creating a forum for the dissemination of information on key issues and opportunities related to historic preservation.

f Work with Vermont Archaeological Society (VAS) and the Agency of Transportation’s Cultural Resources team (VTrans) to sponsor, organize, and manage annual Vermont Archaeology Month activities each September.

f Provide links to photographs, histories, drawings, and other research and documentation.

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GOAL 4 Historic Resource Stewardship

I. Raise the profile of historic preservation through cultural tourism and 21st-century stewardship of historic resources.

f Improve the infrastructure that supports historic preservation-related tourism.

f Work with tourism partners such as chambers of commerce, Humanities Council, Vermont Attractions, Vermont Historical Society, and state agencies such as the Chief Marketing Officer and Department of Tourism and Marketing.

f Partner with state agencies such as Forest, Parks, and Recreation and non-state-owned museums and parks to implement programs that emphasize history, archaeology, and historic preservation.

f Celebrate designations to the State and National Registers of Historic Places and successful rehabilitation projects to encourage other historic preservation efforts.

f Use the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act in 2016 as an opportunity to celebrate and promote historic preservation in Vermont.

f Position historic preservation prominently in the 2016 celebrations of Vermont’s statehood 225 years ago (March 4, 1791).

II. Undertake new research and scholarship at the State-owned Historic Sites and Vermont Archaeology Heritage Center to improve our understanding of the significance of the historic resources owned by VDHP.

CASE STUDY Regulatory Review with Local, State, and Federal Partners

Waterbury State Complex WATERBURY, VERMONT

Tropical Storm Irene, which hit Vermont in August 2011, severely damaged many of our significant historic properties. One of the most visible resources devastated by this storm was the Waterbury State Office Complex, constructed in the 1890s to serve as the Vermont State Asylum for the Insane. The progressive design, although altered by the construction of additions and new buildings, revolutionized the treatment and care of patients with mental health issues. The floodwaters crested about 2.5 feet above the site’s 100-year flood line. The Vermont Division for Historic

Preservation ensured that the historic resources were preserved appropriately, new construction met preservation standards, loss of historic resources was adequately mitigated, and all flood hazard mitigation was appropriate for the complex and the neighborhood historic district. With federal funding from FEMA, this is the largest, most expensive and most complex, capital construction project ever undertaken by the State. It is arguably the largest historic preservation project ever attempted in Vermont.

CASE STUDY Friends, Partners and Creative Collaboration

Vermont’s State-owned Historic SitesStrong partnerships have long benefitted the State-owned Historic Sites Program of the Division for Historic Preservation. Many of these partners fit the traditional profile of friends groups, although their contributions may be anything but traditional. In Calais, Historic Kents’ Corner played a vital role in the rehabilitation of the Kent Tavern State Historic Site and now sponsors contemporary art shows that draw a new audience to the museum each autumn. The Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation, a partner in the construction of the Museum and Education Center at the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site, hosts the Presidential Debate Program

that brings several hundred high school students to the Plymouth site annually. The Friends of the Morrill Homestead secured much of the funding necessary for the construction of the Education Center at the Justin Morrill State Historic Site and offer events that attract a wide range of visitors to the landscaped gardens and mid-19th-century home of this self-educated legislator. Our Friends groups and preservation partners play a critical role in drawing new visitors to our State-owned Historic Sites and in passing along a strong preservation ethic to future generations.

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Implementation Plan

Although VDHP will take the lead on these actions with measurable targets annually, partnerships are essential to our success, with consistent communication, choreographed outreach, and visionary planning. Misperceptions about historic preservation can be addressed by working together to foster a better understanding of our cultural heritage and how best to protect it. This ambitious agenda requires synchronized efforts. Coordinating with sister state agencies and federal partners streamlines procedures and promotes preservation as a revitalization strategy. Uniting with communities, non-profit organizations, and property owners extends the preservation-partnering network, creates advocacy groups, and makes preservation a tool for smart growth.

A polling of Vermonters shows the top priorities in Vermont for stakeholders to undertake for

better preservation practices over the next 10 years is:

58% Education of Decision- Makers and Others

Who Influence Fate of Historic Resources

51% Direct Investment to Save Threatened

Historic Resources

48% Education of General Public about Importance

of Preserving Historic Resources

43% Supporting Preservation Legislation and Funding

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTSThe Vermont Division for Historic Preservation extends its gratitude to the many citizens who provided their opinions and guidance regarding the efforts of historic preservation in Vermont. This plan reflects the collaborative work of all VDHP staff, Department of Housing and Community Development, Agency of Commerce and Community Development, and Vermont Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, along with our many local, state, and federal partners.

State of VermontHonorable Peter Shumlin, GovernorPhillip Scott, Lieutenant Governor

Agency of Commerce and Community DevelopmentPatricia Moulton, SecretaryLucy Leriche, Deputy Secretary

Department of Housing and Community DevelopmentNoelle MacKay, CommissionerJennifer Hollar and Josh Hanford, Deputy Commissioners Dale Azaria, General Counsel

Division for Historic PreservationLaura V. Trieschmann, State Historic Preservation OfficerYvonne Benney Basque, Historic Resources SpecialistJesse Blondin, Financial AdministratorMarylou Chicote, Bennington Monument CaretakerDevin Colman, State Architectural Historian Caitlin Corkins, Tax Credit and Historic Grants SpecialistR. Scott Dillon, Survey ArchaeologistJames Duggan, Senior Historic Preservation Review CoordinatorElsa Gilbertson, Historic Sites Regional AdministratorWilliam Jenney, Historic Sites Regional AdministratorJennifer Lavoie, Administrative AssistantTracy Martin, Historic Sites Section ChiefElizabeth Peebles, Historic Resources SpecialistFrancis “Jess” Robinson, State ArchaeologistDebra Sayers, Administrative Services Coordinator

Vermont Advisory Council on Historic PreservationJohn Vetter, Archeologist, ChairBarbara George, Citizen Member, Vice ChairGlenn Andres, Architectural HistorianBlaine Cliver, Historical ArchitectDavid A. Donath, HistorianRon Kilburn, Citizen MemberHelen Whyte, Citizen Member

State-owned Historic Sites and BridgesBennington Battle Monument State Historic Site, BenningtonPresident Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site, Plymouth NotchPresident Chester A. Arthur State Historic Site, FairfieldChimney Point State Historic Site, AddisonEthan Allen Monument, BurlingtonEureka Schoolhouse State Historic Site and Baltimore Covered Bridge, SpringfieldFisher Covered Railroad Bridge, WolcottForestdale Iron Works, BrandonHammond Covered Bridge, PittsfordHighgate Lenticular Arch Metal Truss Bridge, HighgateHubbardton Battlefield State Historic Site, HubbardtonKent Tavern Museum State Historic Site, CalaisMedburyville Iron Truss Bridge, WilmingtonSenator Justin S. Morrill State Historic Site, StraffordMount Independence State Historic Site, OrwellNew Haven Junction Railroad Station, New HavenOld Constitution House, WindsorScott Covered Bridge, TownshendShoreham Covered Railroad Bridge, ShorehamTheron Boyd House State Historic Site, QuecheeUnderwater Historic Preserves, Lake Champlain

Production TeamHeather Pelham, Chief Marketing OfficerErin Salls, Marketing Manager

PhotographyAll photographs were taken by VDHP and Richard Amore, Planning CoordinatorThanks to the following photographers for the images used in this report: Stephen Goodhue, CB Johnson, Dennis Curran, and Karen PikeAxes by Gordon Auchincloss, Kent Tavern State Historic Site (Page 32, Top Left)Icons Courtesy of flaticon

Taftsville, Vermont

The Historic Preservation Plan for the State of Vermont has been funded in part with federal funds from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. However, the contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of the Interior, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Department of the Interior.

This program has received federal financial assistance for the identification, protection, and/or rehabilitation of historic properties and cultural resources in the State of Vermont. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, or disability in its federally assisted programs. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you desire further information, please write to:

Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20240

Craftsbury, Vermont

accd.vermont.gov/strong_communities/preservationhistoricsites.vermont.gov/